Mead Judging Flashcards
What is mead judging described as in the text?
In a nascent state.
Why has the information on mead content and styles been limited?
Mead has not been as popular as beer and wine in recent centuries.
What is the primary concern with the current mead judging categories?
They are based on specialized names rather than entry frequency or natural divisions.
What does the author suggest should define a traditional mead category?
Tastes rather than ingredients.
What is a hydromel in the context of mead?
A mead that has been weakened by dilution.
True or False: Mead should contain hops.
False.
What are the four category modifiers for mead entries?
- Variety of honey
- Strength
- Sweetness
- Carbonation Level
What is the strength modifier for hydromels based on original gravity?
Less than 1.080.
What sweetness level corresponds to a dry mead?
Final gravity less than 1.010.
What character should the honey have in a Traditional Mead?
It should be expressed in aroma and flavor.
What defines a Melomel?
A mead made with fruit.
What is a Cyser?
An apple melomel.
What should a Raspberry Melomel have in terms of flavor?
Distinct and intense raspberry flavor.
What color should a Cherry Melomel have?
Deep reddish brown.
Fill in the blank: A mead made with spices or herbs is called a _______.
Metheglin.
What is a common problem in Mulling Spice Metheglins?
Overdoing the ginger.
What balance is essential in a Mellow Spice Metheglin?
Acidity-sweetness balance.
What is the primary aim of the article ‘A Treatise on Mead Judging’?
To improve and define mead judging practices.
What should judges be provided with at the beginning of a competition?
Modifier descriptions, category descriptions, and subcategory descriptions.
What is Metheglin?
A spiced or flavored mead that can include various spices or herbs.
List some ingredients that may be found in Italian Spice Metheglin.
- Oregano
- Basil
- Thyme
- Bay Leaves
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Garlic
What character does Flower Petal Metheglin typically showcase?
The delicate taste and aroma of flower petals.
True or False: Peppery Metheglin is intended to have a strong spice character to balance the sweetness of honey.
True
Fill in the blank: Chile Mead is named for the spicy chemical _______ and the genus of chile plants, capsicum.
capsaicin
What is a Braggot?
A mead made with malted barley or wheat, where the majority of fermentable sugars come from honey.
What are the three types of Braggot categorized by color?
- Pale Braggot
- Amber Braggot
- Dark Braggot
What is the purpose of a Mixed Category Mead?
To combine ingredients from two of the previous categories, exhibiting the character of all ingredients.
What is Hippocras?
A mead made with grapes and spices.
What is a common characteristic of Apple Pie Mead?
It is made with apples and mulling spices.
List the key considerations for organizing a mead judging.
- Advertising
- Handling entries
- Registration
- Obtaining judges
- Buying prizes
- Ensuring fair judging
What should the entry form for a mead judging include?
- Mead name
- Brewer name and address
- Recipe
- Category and subcategory
- Variety of honey
- Additives
- Strength
- Sweetness
- Carbonation level
At what temperature should mead be served?
Cellar temperature, 55–60 F.
What is the recommended number of meads per flight for judging?
Around 10 meads.
What is the primary concern when judging mead?
Balance between acidity, sweetness, and tannin, as well as honey character.
What should judges do between tasting each mead?
Cleanse their palate with water, bland bread, or a cracker.
What types of flavor flaws might meads exhibit?
- Harshness from higher alcohols
- Nutrient taste from ammonium phosphate
- Oxidation leading to wet cardboard taste
- Phenolic and metallic tastes
What is a key difference between mead and beer judging?
Mead judging emphasizes the expression of honey character and balance with other flavors.
What is the significance of giving written comments during mead judging?
Complete and thorough comments are more valuable to brewers than overall scores.
Who are the authors of the book ‘Making Mead (Honey Wine)’?
Roger A. Morse
Published in 1980.
What is the subject of the 1994 Special Issue of Zymurgy?
Special Ingredients and Indigenous Beer
This is noted as the 17:4 issue.
Who wrote ‘Stalking the Wild Meads’ in Zymurgy?
Ralph Bucca
This article appeared in the Summer 1993 Issue (16:2).
What is the focus of the article ‘Stimulate Your Senses With Mead’?
Mead
Written by Susanne Price in Fall 1992 Issue (15:3).
What is Michael L. Hall’s profession?
Computational physicist
He works at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
Since what year has Michael L. Hall been brewing beer and mead?
1989
What organization is Michael L. Hall a national judge in?
BJCP
BJCP stands for Beer Judge Certification Program.
What club did Michael L. Hall help to found?
Los Alamos Atom Mashers
List three roles Michael L. Hall has held in the Los Alamos Atom Mashers.
- President
- Newsletter editor
- Treasurer
Where can Michael L. Hall be contacted via the Internet?
Mike.Hall@POBox.com
In which publication was this article released?
Inside Mead
This is a publication of the American Mead Association, published in January 1996.
Fill in the blank: This article is available on the Los Alamos Atom Mashers _______ Page.
Goodies
True or False: Michael L. Hall has served as a secretary in the Los Alamos Atom Mashers.
True
